Eugenie Bouchard has debuted in pickleball! In Rancho Mirage, California, during the Hyundai Masters, the 29-year-old played pickleball for the first time. After competing on the WTA tour in Guadalajara in September, the former fifth-ranked tennis player in the world was spotted playing pickleball professionally on the PPA circuit, recently. But it wasn’t so simple to prepare for her first-ever pickleball match professionally.

After making a successful debut, she recently revealed that it was a nightmare before her debut but turned out to be a wonderful experience. See what the Canadian tennis star had to say about her first PPA Tour match below.

Eugenie Bouchard “was very, very nervous” in her Pickleball debut

The 2014 Wimbledon finalist decided to do the challenging juggling between tennis and pickleball making her debut on the PPA tour along with tennis stars like Jack Sock, Sam Querrey, and Donald Young. Recently, she opened up about how it is not easy for her to get ready for the big day.

She said, “I played in Palm Springs for my first event in mid-January, and I was very, very nervous, like wanting to throw up before my first match. I got totally smoked in the first game that I played. I improved as the day went on, I had singles and mixed doubles and then women’s doubles, all in the same day.” 

The Canadian tennis player clearly highlighted how she was very novel before her first match, but then it all went smoothly. Not only that, she also highlighted how her partners helped her and gave her advice before the match. Further, she also stated that playing more pickleball tournaments can help her get out of the nervousness before the matches.

READ MORE: Canadian Tennis Star Turned Pickleball Pro Finds Transition Hard as She Fumbles On-Court in a Hysterical Act

Furthermore, she disclosed her ideas on being tied to tennis a few days prior to her first match, while also disclosing whether or not she intended to switch from tennis to pickleball.

Is Bouchard leaving tennis for pickleball?

A few days ago, before her pickleball debut, Eugenie Bouchard talked about not abandoning tennis. She also mentioned how she and tennis go back a long way, with her first tennis lesson occurring when she was just 5 years old.

Further, she added, “I’m very excited to just challenge myself with this new pickle chapter and then still remain in the tennis world that I love.”

She further noted that, despite her apparent preference for tennis, she is still attempting to adapt to pickleball, given that everyone else in her immediate vicinity seems to be quite fixated on the sport.

Still, what do you think about Bouchard taking up pickleball? Please let us know by leaving a comment below.

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